Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Most Popular Political Science & Government Schools in California

Find Schools Near

2023 Most Popular Political Science & Government Schools in California

177 Colleges
$33,769 Avg Salary
$19,462 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Political Science & Government School for You

With 8,494 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, political science and government is the #14 most popular major in California.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Political Science & Government Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 177 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Political Science & Government program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Political Science & Government Colleges.

Our 2023 rankings named University of California - Los Angeles the most popular school in California for political science and government students. UCLA is a fairly large public school located in the city of Los Angeles.

While working on their degree, political science majors at UCLA accumulate an average of around $15,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $263.

Read More…

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of California - Berkeley is a great place for political science and government students. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley.

On average, political science graduates from UC Berkeley take out $13,000 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $233.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of California - Berkeley

Out of the 177 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, political science graduates from UCSD carry an average student debt load of $16,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $190.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of California - San Diego

Out of the 177 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the # 4 spot on the list. UC Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine.

On average, political science graduates from UC Irvine take out $16,445 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $172.

Full Political Science & Government at University of California - Irvine Report

Out of the 177 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the # 5 spot on the list. UCSB is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara.

Political Science majors at UCSB take out an average of $15,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $398.

Full Political Science & Government at University of California - Santa Barbara Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Political Science & Government Schools in California list. UC Davis is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of Davis.

While working on their degree, political science majors at UC Davis accumulate an average of around $12,743 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $242.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of California - Davis

University of California - Riverside landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular political science and government programs. UCR is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside.

After completing their degree, political science graduates from UCR carry an average student debt load of $20,270. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $174.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of California - Riverside

#8

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular political science and government programs. Located in the small city of Santa Monica, SMC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Full Political Science & Government at Santa Monica College Report

California State University - Northridge ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Political Science & Government Schools in California list. Located in the city of Northridge, CSUN is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, political science graduates from CSUN carry an average student debt load of $16,000.

Read More…

With a ranking of #10, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for political science and government students. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public school with a large student population.

Political Science majors at UC Santa Cruz take out an average of $19,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $185, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for political science and government students. CSULB is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Long Beach.

Political Science majors at CSULB take out an average of $15,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Political Science & Government at California State University - Long Beach Report

California State University - Sacramento came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Political Science & Government Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, political science graduates from Sac State carry an average student debt load of $16,207. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $201.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at California State University - Sacramento

#13

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

With a ranking of #13, San Diego State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for political science and government students. Located in the city of San Diego, SDSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, political science graduates from SDSU carry an average student debt load of $15,893. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $372.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at San Diego State University

University of Southern California came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Political Science & Government Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that political science majors at USC take out is $15,500. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $471.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at University of Southern California

#15

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

With a ranking of #15, San Francisco State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for political science and government students. Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, political science graduates from SFSU take out $17,472 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $244, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

California State University - Fullerton landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular political science and government programs. Cal State Fullerton is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.

After completing their degree, political science graduates from Cal State Fullerton carry an average student debt load of $15,000.

Read More…

#17

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA

With a ranking of #17, Santa Clara University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for political science and government students. Located in the city of Santa Clara, SCU is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

While working on their degree, political science majors at SCU accumulate an average of around $24,500 in student debt.

Full Political Science & Government at Santa Clara University Report

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for political science and government students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, political science majors at Cal State LA accumulate an average of around $12,676 in student debt.

Full Political Science & Government at California State University - Los Angeles Report

With a ranking of #19, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for political science and government students. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo.

After completing their degree, political science graduates from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo carry an average student debt load of $19,250. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $472.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

#20

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

With a ranking of #20, San Jose State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for political science and government students. San Jose State is a very large public school located in the large city of San Jose.

Full Political Science & Government at San Jose State University Report

University of California - Merced came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Political Science & Government Schools in California ranking. Located in the rural area of Merced, UC Merced is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that political science majors at UC Merced take out is $20,313. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $109, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Political Science & Government at University of California - Merced Report

With a ranking of #22, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for political science and government students. Located in the suburb of Pomona, Cal Poly Pomona is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Political Science majors at Cal Poly Pomona take out an average of $16,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

California State University - Chico landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular political science and government programs. Chico State is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Chico.

After completing their degree, political science graduates from Chico State carry an average student debt load of $19,750.

Full Political Science & Government at California State University - Chico Report

#24

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for political science and government students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

Political Science majors at Loyola Marymount take out an average of $22,561 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $1,120, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Loyola Marymount University

#25

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

With a ranking of #25, Stanford University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for political science and government students. Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Full Political Science & Government at Stanford University Report

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Political Science & Government Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
27 Chapman University Orange, CA
28 University of San Diego San Diego, CA
29 Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA
30 California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA
31 California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
31 East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CA
33 California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA
34 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
35 Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CA
35 California State University - Channel Islands Camarillo, CA
35 Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA

Best Political Science & Government Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Political Science & Government Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 984
Oregon 543
Nevada 224
Hawaii 141
Alaska 16

Political Science & Government is one of 12 different types of programs to choose from.

Majors Similar to Political Science

Related Major Annual Graduates
Economics 49,055
Sociology 38,475
General Social Sciences 18,997
International Relations & National Security 14,306
Anthropology 11,415

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to UKWiki at English Wikipedia.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.